Week 8 Recap

Westerville Central 54, Westerville South 35

Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoJOSHUA A. BICKEL/THISWEEKSPORTSWesterville Central running back Benny Snell (22) carries the ball as Westerville South defensive back Abu Damary (8) makes the tackle. Snell rushed for a touchdown on the following play, as Central beat South 54-35 on Oct. 17.

At a glance

•Star: Central running back Alex Fisher rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.

•Key play: After South pulled to within 28-21 in the third quarter, Central answered with a 9-yard touchdown run by Justin Head.

•Key stat: The Warhawks held a 429-160 advantage in rushing yards.

The Westerville Central High School football team ended years of frustration with a 54-35 win over Westerville South on Oct. 17.

It was Central’s first win in the series in seven meetings.

“This is fantastic, I couldn’t be happier for my teammates,” Central quarterback Jared Drake said. “From the day that I got here, they told me it’s all about beating South. For us to come out here and fight like this and put up 54 points and not quit, it’s a crazy feeling.”

Drake, who transferred from Upper Arlington prior to his junior year, completed 11 of 16 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 113 yards on 15 carries.

Central running back Alex Fisher rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.

The Warhawks improved to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the OCC-Cardinal Division and will play host to Hilliard Darby on Oct. 25 with first place in the league on the line.

Darby is 4-0 in the league entering its game against Dublin Scioto on Oct. 18.

South lost its fourth consecutive game and dropped to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the league.

“The town gets caught up in this,” Central coach John Magistro said of the rivalry. “I’m happy for our seniors and for our coaches, who did a great job, and our fans. It was a good football game.”

The Wildcats remained close throughout the first half and trailed by just 21-14 when running back Darien Miller scored on a 14-yard touchdown run, his second score of the game, with 3 minutes, 4 seconds left in the first half.

Central’s quick-strike offense responded less than two minutes later when Benny Snell scored on a 9-yard run to push the lead to 28-14 at the half.

The Wildcats again pulled to within a touchdown at 28-21 early in the third quarter on quarterback Tim Bates’ 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Abu Damary, but Central regained control on its next possession when 6-foot, 260-pound running back Justin Head scored on a 9-yard run.

“Getting down a couple scores to them is never easy,” Bates said. “You need big stops and as an offense, we needed to come through with a score and we didn’t do that.”

Damary had 12 catches for 228 yards and a touchdown and Miller had 18 carries for 140 yards and four touchdowns.

Bates completed 22 of 37 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown.

“I didn’t think we ever gave up,” South coach Rocky Pentello said. “Our defense couldn’t stop them. That’s the bottom line. They have a really good offense. They do a good job.”